Supplementary hopper for feed-grinders



M. F. WILLIAMS. SUPPLEMENTARY HOPPER FOR FEED enmozas.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2|, l9l9- Patented Nov. 16, 1920;

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MILTON F. WILLIAMS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A-SSIGNOR TO WILLIAMS PATENT CRUSIIER a PULVERIZER 00., OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MIS- SOURI.

SUPPLEMENTARY HOPPER FOR FEED-GRINDERS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented N 16, 1920.-

Application filed March 21 1919. Serial No. 283,986.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILTON F. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing atSt. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain. new and useful Improvements in Supplementary Hoppers for Feed-Grinders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in supplementary hoppers for feed grinders and like machines.

The object of my invention is to provide a hopper adapted for feeding cane, cornstalks and like material in addition to the hopper used for other dissimilar material.

In the accompanying drawing on which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional elevation across the shaft of a feed grinder embodying my invention; Fig. 2 a detailed perspective view of a supplementary hopper; Fig. 3 a similar view of a closing plate; Fig. 4 a front elevation of the feed grinder shown in Fig. 1 with said closing plate in position; and Fig. 5 a side View of the grinder shown in Fig.&.

The letter A designates a casingof a feed grinder provided with a hopper B at the top having a bottom outlet into a rotor chamber and having flaring side walls and a front wall C that has a supplementary inlet opening above the said hopper outlet, which inlet may be closed by a plate when desired. A cut-ofi slide D is mounted on the opposite wall of said hopper and inclines downward to regulate the size of the hopper outlet opening opposite a breaker plate E that is slidingly inserted from above into a pocket F formed in the casing of said grinder. Opposite to the breaker plate is a rotor, comlprising a shaft G and strirrup hammers pivotally mounted on dlsks I carried by the shaft and rotating in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 5 toward said breaker plate. The front wall 0 and the breaker plate E are not in alinement,- the breaker plate forming a larger angle with the vertical than the front wall C so that the plate may be readily removed from the pocket. 7

In operating said grinder upon feed that is to be reduced to roughage this relation of the breaker plate and front wall operates with good results; when material such as corn stalks, cane and such long material is to be reduced, this hopper and breaker plate do not cooperate in the reduction of the material with the desired effect. I have therefore provided a supplementary hopper in addition to the regular hopper B, for the reduction of this long material such as corn stalks. This supplementary hopper consists of a bottom J and side walls K substantially in line with the breaker plate and the respective sides. That is to say, the bottom of the hopper J is preferably made of thin material and slightly overlaps the upper inner face of said breaker plate as shown in Fig. 1, so that long material fed in to the supplementary hopper, will pass upon the breaker plate without change of direction and be engaged by the stirrup hammers and drawn into the grinder.

The breaker plate may still be withdrawn from the pocket without interference from the bottom ofthe supplementary hopper. The slide D'will regulate the size of the inlet opening for the supplementary hopper as well as for the regular hopper, The supplementary hopper and the regular hoppei may be used at the same time for dissimilar materials, or the supplementary hopper may be used alone for long material like cane and corn stalks, as may be desired. It is preferred to make this supplementary hopper detachable, and I have therefore provided a closing plate L fitting the opening.

M in the front wall C of the hopper and casing and secured by bolts or other. fastening means as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In the preferred form of plate L, the lugs 1 have holes O-matching holes I in the side walls of the casing and hopper, through which bolts may be inserted to secure the plate L in position as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. With this closing plate in position, the regular use of the grinder for reducing velvet beans, cow peas and other stock food, may be made. \Vhen corn stalks or cane are to be reduced, the closing plate is removed and the supplementary hopper is mounted opposite the opening M, with the holes 71: matching the holes P so that the same bolts used for the closing plate L may be used for the supplementary hopper. The sides K overlap the sides of the casing and flaring sides of the hopper B, as shown by dotted lines in Fig.

1, and the supplementary hopper preferably extends above the top of the regular hopper with a continued flaring, in order to facilitate the entrance of corn stalks and such material. Since the supplementary inlet is.

above the hopper outlet to the rotor chainber, the slide D will regulate the admission of feed to the rotor chamber. whether the feed is supplied through the supplementary.

hopper or through the other hopper. In addition to th'e'tastening bolts at the sldes of the supplementary hopper, I provide simi- -lar bolts through openings in a lip Q, fitting above a top wall Rlorming a dust arrester for the regular hopper. Thus the supplementary hopper is securely mou-nted in operative position upon the grinder, yet may be readily detached and the opening M closed by the plateL when desired to return to the regular use of the grinder.

I claim: 1 v I 1'. The combination with a machine of the character described, comprising a rotor, a breaker plate adjacent said rotor, and a casing having a hopper therein the front wall of which has a supplementary feed inlet opening adjacent to said breaker plate, of a supplementary hopper having an opening hopper secured to'said casing and having an opening that registers with the opening in the other hopper, and having a front Wall that is alined with the inner face of said breaker plate for feeding long material upon ing 01"" the other hopper, and a single slide operable across said outlet and adapted to cut off the feed entering from either hopper.

4:. The combination with a machineofthe character described comprising a casing having a hopper the front Wall oi 'which has a secondary feed inlet 'opening,-'said hopper havingflaring sides and a top wall connects ing the sides,-ot a supplementary hopper having an opening registering with said secondary feed inlet: opening and having flaring sides overlapping the casing sides and having an inclined bottom ending at said secondary inlet opening, and having a lip engaging the top wall or the casinghopper,-the sides and bottonrof said Supple-v n tar hopper extending. above thetop of first named hopper,-a-n'd meansto de! acha'bly secure said supplementary hopper 0 said casing. r

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

MILTON F. WILLIAMS.

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